Great Apostasy

zoloft online music ringtones cheap carisoprodol cheap zanaflex free nokia ringtones but lortab motorola ringtones samsung ringtones alltel ringtones sharp ringtones cheap soma mtv ringtones cheap levitra cheap pharmacy online real ringtones ambien online diethylpropion online cheap xanax lorazepam online free real ringtones free punk ringtones buy albuterol cheap xanax online fioricet didrex online verizon ringtones buy ultracet free tracfone ringtones clomid online ativan xanax online nexium online sonyericsson ringtones cheap clomid adipex online cialis hydrocodone online levitra online free midi ringtones lisinopril online free wwe ringtones phentermine online tracfone ringtones sildenafil online verizon ringtones free midi ringtones buy phentermine cheap rivotril vicodin cheap celexa funny ringtones cheap flexeril cheap hoodia cheap tenuate buy prozac free sprint ringtones cheap norco meridia sprint ringtones diazepam online fioricet free mp3 ringtones buy paxil buy zanaflex alprazolam cheap soma diazepam online free wwe ringtones but zoloft buy lorazepam norco free ringtones cheap carisoprodol free qwest ringtones cheap clonazepam cheap celexa clonazepam online lipitor online free nokia ringtones cheap lisinopril cheap propecia free nokia ringtones free punk ringtones carisoprodol online ultram online free sony ericsson ringtones free tracfone ringtones cheap zyban hoodia online tramadol online free cingular ringtones free jazz ringtones alltel ringtones but flexeril free nextel ringtones free kyocera ringtones samsung ringtones motorola ringtones cheap meridia cheap xenical free sony ringtones cheap paxil free sagem ringtones buy ativan rivotril online order ortho cheap celexa sharp ringtones adipex online cheap ortho hydrocodone propecia online free cingular ringtones free nextel ringtones free sagem ringtones adipex online punk ringtones didrex online sonyericsson ringtones cheap didrex diazepam online samsung ringtones sharp ringtones meridia online free mono ringtones valium online hgh online nextel ringtones funny ringtones cheap lortab ultracet buy viagra albuterol online cheap vicodin motorola ringtones cheap lorazepam free ericsson ringtones free mp3 ringtones sonyericsson ringtones cheap viagra cyclobenzaprine online vigrx wwe ringtones cheap zoloft cheap clomid fioricet online samsung ringtones cheap albuterol tramadol online cheap xenical alprazolam online cheap clonazepam mp3 ringtones norco online xanax online mtv ringtones free qwest ringtones valium online sildenafil online cheap zyban alprazolam online levitra soma online ortho online xenical online cheap zyban polyphonic ringtones free motorola ringtones cheap lisinopril sagem ringtones music ringtones ativan online jazz ringtones free cool ringtones ericsson ringtones tracfone ringtones but norco cheap viagra free sony ericsson ringtones nexium online paxil online free cool ringtones vicodin online free kyocera ringtones free jazz ringtones free sprint ringtones cheap cialis cyclobenzaprine online nokia ringtones paxil online lipitor online cyclobenzaprine online prozac online ultram online cheap pharmacy online cheap rivotril free sony ringtones fioricet online order tenuate viagra online Mormonism teaches that not long after Jesus Christ's lifetime, internal rebellions within the early Christian community caused the primitive Christian Church, led by the Twelve Apostles to disappear and be replaced by many factions, each of which had pieces of the truth, but not the fullness. More importantly, this falling away (see 2 Thes. 2:3) resulted in a loss of authority, which Mormons called Priesthood. Without proper authority from God, man cannot perform the ordinances of the Church.

During Jesus' ministry, he set up his Church. He called Apostles and Prophets and gave them authority to act in his name and teach the gospel. In Luke 6:12-16, we read told that Jesus chose apostles and who they were, “and it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.” It is important to understand that the priesthood is not a group of priests, but the authority to act in the name of God.

After Jesus was crucified, the apostles and prophets he appointed continued to receive revelation for the Church and about the gospel. They recorded these things in the scriptures and taught them to the people. The apostles and prophets went into different lands to teach the gospel, but they were rejected. Even some of the members of the Christ’s Church began to fall away from the teachings of the gospel. The New Testament documents the many inspired teachings of the early Apostles; it also documents the difficulties and challenges the early Church faced. Paul's epistles, especially, record many references to people within the Church teaching false doctrines, attempting to usurp power, or leading other's astray. Paul also mentions that some people are circulating false letters in the name of the Apostles.

Many of the Apostles and righteous members of Christ’s Church were killed by the wicked, and the priesthood along with Christ’s Church were taken from the earth. Persecution of those who were termed Christians began in about the first century by the Roman Empire. Revelation could no longer be received because there was no one to receive it, although individuals could and continued to receive inspiration in their personal lives. Because man was not able to receive revelation and understanding from God, man began to rely on his own wisdom to interpret scriptures and Christ’s teachings. This caused much confusion and false ideas about God, Jesus and His Church.

Fragments of Christ’s Church was all that remained and it was often mixed with pagan practices or the practices of other religions. The world fell into apostasy, which means that the full truth of the gospel was not on the earth. Apostasy comes from the Greek word meaning rebellion. There were no prophets to lead the people, and man was left to his own wisdom. This does not mean that God and Christ completely ignored mankind. There were times that man was guided to certain places or ideas. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believe for example, that Christopher Columbus was led to the Americas by the spirit and that the discovery of the Americas was instrumental in God’s plan for us. The new land provided a place where a new government could arise, a government that had built into its framework a tolerance for all religion.

Reformers and other religious leaders through out time have commented on the changes

The Restoration[1], a necessary event after an apostasy, came about through Joseph Smith. In the spring of 1829, while translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were visited by heavenly messengers who restored to them the Priesthood, the authority to act in God's name. In 1830, the Church of Christ, as the Mormon Church was originally called, was organized officially and the Great Apostasy ended. The authority to act in God’s name had been restored. Now there are again Apostles on the earth, and a Prophet who guides the Church of Christ through revelation and the power of the priesthood.

Other Links: FAIR LDS contains many articles on different aspects of the Great Apostasy.